Elevator control system



Sept. 17; 1935. M. STALEY 2,014,821

ELEVATOR CONTROL SYSTEM Filed Jan. 18, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Marcel/us SI'a/ey ATTORNEY Patented s er. i7, 1935 neural) STATES- PATENT OFFICE.

ELEVATQR "CONTROL SYSTEM Marcellus Staley, Brooklyn, N. Y. Application January 18, 1935, Serial No. 2,331

i2 Ciaims. (Cl. 18729) This invention relates to improvements in elevator control systems and, more particularly, is directed to improvements in control systems of the class wherein a. commutator unit is actuated by step movements.

A number of advantages are derived from the use of commutator mechanism having a unit actuated by step movements. A standardized, uniform arrangement of cooperating commutator contact members can be employed irrespective of the varying floor spacing existing in different buildings' Mechanical transmission means and reduction apparatus comprising multiple parts, involving high first and maintenance costs, are

dispensed with-a direct .121 relation between the movements of the car and of the commutator, is established. The commutator construction is light, the assembly is compact and the mechanism is readily accessible. It need not be'mounted in the motor room, nor need a special motor room setting be provided. a

Although the benefits obtained by use of commutator mechanism as above described, are many, there are attendant disadvantages. A particular objection is operating noise caused, as by the repeated throwing of a switch, in the hatchway. The hatchway magnifies the noise and these sounds are especially objectionable in apartment house installations where the .cars are subject to service throughout the day and the night. The operation involves intermittent, generally floor by floor, making and breaking of control circuits and consequently failure or improper functioning of the control circuits is likely to occur at any of a number of points. It is the purpose of the present invention to substantially eliminate these objections. 7 a

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a simplified and improved control system,

, which is comparatively noiseless in operation.

Another object is the provision of an arrangement comprising hatchway contacts and cooperating contact members on the car, adaptedto positively engage the hatchway contacts, and eliminating the use of a switch ,on the car.

Another object is an arrangement wherein a member essential to 'and having a mechanical function apart from the control syste is uti lized to perform additional mechanical unctions and to also perform electrical functi as in the control system. i i I A further object of the invention is a novel mounting arrangement for the hatchway contacts and for the cooperating car contacts.

It is also the object of the invention to provide Figure 2 is a detail front elevation, partly 10' broken away, showing one of the hatch contacts mounted on the guide rail for the car, and the cooperating car contact fingers carried by the guide rail shoe on the car.

Figure 3 is'a top plan view of the parts shown in Figure 2, and

Figure 4 is a detail side view showing the barrel stand and the spring pressed, contact carrying, guide rail shoe. q

The system, as will be understood, can serve any number of floors, it being here shownapplied to three floors. It can be employed with any. ofa variety of control systems of either the onebutton or the two-button type, a.onebutton system being shown merely for illustrative purposes. The commutator and actuating means therefor is shown as'of the type shown and more fully described in copending application Serial Number 729,689, filed June 8, 1934. It will be understood that other forms of commutating means and 3 actuating means can be used. The commutator can be arranged wherever desired. Preferably, it is mounted with other elements of the control system in a controller and the controller can'be located wherever it is deemed convenient and desirable.

As shown in Figure 1, the elevator car 0 in hatchway H is moved by means of the cable passing over a drum driven by any preferred type of elevator motor EM. The motor is provided with 40 the usual brake mechanism B. I

The commutator comprises stationary contact elements and a movable unit carrying cooperating contact or conductor members, and can comprise a plurality of units, each adapted to perform functions of the control system. In the form shown a single commutator unit has been illustrated.

The functioning of the system is initiated by the pressure of any of a plurality of pushbuttons.

understood, a similar set of floor-corresponding pushbuttons (not shown) is mounted on a panel in the car C.

Pressure of a button will close a circuit to be described, for energizing a floor-corresponding relay, indicated in Figure l, as BR, IR, 2R, respectively. Each relay, in turn, controls a pair of contacts BR, IR, 2R, respectively, each of which is connected with a stationary, floorcorresponding contact finger of the commutator mechanism.

The commutator mechanism, as has been stated, is of the type shown and described in my copending application hereinbefore referred to. It comprises a rotatable drum, of which one section namely, the car dispatch section D, has been illustrated, and cooperating. stationary, floor-corresponding contact fingers, indicated in Figure 1 as BF, IF, 2F, respectively.- These fingers cooperate with up and down direction conductor plates 3U, 3D, mounted on the drum. The plates are separated by a staggered, floor-corresponding, insulated gap at 4 and are connected by conductors 5U, 5D, respectively, with up and down direction feed strips 6U, 3D, respectively. Cooperating with the feed strips are up and down direction contact fingers 1U, ID, the latter being conductively connected with the coils of up and down direction relays 8U, 3D, respectively. The direction relays, as will be described, control contacts for closing the elevator motor circuit and for partially controlling circuits for the actuating means for the commutator drum.

The commutator drum is provided with a gear 9 having two sets of floor-corresponding ratchet teeth, not shown. The drum actuating means comprising up and down jump magnets IflU, IIlD, respectively, each having a plunger I I to which is pivoted a link I2. A pawl I3 is pivotally mounted on each link, and each pawl is adapted to engage the teeth of one set provided in the gear.

In accordance with the invention, means are provided for controlling circuits which govern actuating means for effecting step movements of a movable commutator unit.

As shown in Figure i, there is mounted on the roof of the car a stand carrying a guide shoe on which are mounted an up and a down car contact finger IlU, HID, respectively. Cooperating with the car contact fingers is a plurality of hatchway contacts. Inthe preferred embodiment of the invention the hatchway contacts comprise pins IIU, I5D. each mounted in a metal arm I3. One each of the contact pins ISU, ISD is arranged adjacent each landing of the intermediate floors and a single contact pin is arranged adjacent the terminal landings.

Each metal arm I is conductively secured to a metal guide rail I1, in the hatchway, by adjustable clamps II. Therail I1 is the guide rail common to all elevator systems. It performs the usual mechanical function of serving as a guide for the car in its movements up and down the hatchway. In accordance with the present invention it serves the additional mechanical function of a mounting member forthe metal arms carrying the contacts. This facilitates accurate placement of the contacts in the hatchway. And, as will be described. the guide rail I'I performs electrical functions in the system, serving as part of one side of the circuits for the commutator actuating means. I

By providing adjustable clamps for securing the contact-carrying arms I. to the guide rail, the contacts can be initially adjusted to proper settings to insure accurate drum movements and level floor stops. After such initial adjustment the contacts will require no further adjustment.

Another feature of the invention resides in the novel arrangement of the car contact fingers with 5 respect to the hatchway cont-acts.

As shown, there is mounted on the roof of the car a barrel stand comprising a base I9, 9. web 20 and a horizontally extending barrel H, see Figure 4. Barrel 2I supports a guide rail shoe 22, 1 which embraces the front flange of the guide rail I1. Projecting rearwardly from the shoe 22 is a pin 23 shouldered at 2t. At one end the bore of the barrel is reduced. The shoe pin 23 and its shoulder are received in barrel 2 I, the pin passing through the reduced bore of the barrel and ex-- tending beyond the barrel. Between the shoulder 24 of the guide shoe pin 23 and the shoulder formed in the barrel 2 i, a spring 25 surrounds the pin and acts to press the guide shoe toward the guide rail. This provides a yielding connection between the car and its guide shoe.

Secured by screws to the guide railshoe 22 is an angle piece 26, on which, at opposite ends, are mounted insulating blocks 21. Each block 21 is provided with a slot adapted to receive one of the car contact fingers. In the iform shown, the rear end of each contact finger passes through its associated block 21, is bent along the rear side thereof and is then turned down on one of the horizontal surfaces of the block. A screw 28 for each bloclr 2i serves as a securing and contact screw and is provided with nuts for securing a conductor member to each screw. Each screw passes through a car contact finger into a block 21, through the finger again in the slot, and through the lower portion of the block to firmly secure the contact finger in place in an insulating block.

From the above it will be apparent, that a member having a conventional mechanical function in any ordinary elevator organization, is utilized to perform'additional mechanical functions and to also perform electrical functions in the control system for the elevator. In the present instance, the guide shoe for the car and its guide rail in the hatchway, common to all elevator installations, are employed as the mounting means for cooperating contact members, and the guide rail also serves as part of the circuits closed by said cooperating contact elements. The guide rail and 5 guide shoe act to limit sway of the car to motion to and from the rail and avoid transverse swaying motion; The arrangement of the cooperating contact members on the guide rail and on the guide shoe, respectively, is such as to adequately 5 provide that the back and forth swaying motion willnot interfere with the proper functioning of the control circuits. The engagement between the cooperating contact members is at all times direct and uniformly positive.

The fixed and cooperating flexible contact elements provide a most advantageous relationship. With this arrangement, dust and other foreign matter is not allowed to collect on the contacts and affect the functions of the circuits. At each engagement between the contacts, a flexible contact member wipes a fixed contact thus establishing a self-cleaning action. 3

In the preferred embodiment, flexible members Ila, Ilb, cooperate with each car contact finger 7 U, IlD, see particularly Figure 2. The flat ends of the members of each pair Ila, Ilb, are received. and firmly secured in one of the insulating blocks 21. The intermediate portions of the members of each pair are bowed and, at their outer extremities, are reversely bent to provide a yielding bearing for one of the car contact springs. A

flexible fulcrum is thus provided intermediate the ,life of the contact fingers is thus appreciably increased. This arrangement enables extremely thin contact fingers to be used, further eliminating noise. If desired two or more thin contact fingers can be placed between each pair of flexible members.

The arrangement, as described, eliminates the use of a switch on the car and represents a. simplified modification oi the means shown in copending application Ser. No. 729,689, filed June 8, 1934. Other modifications are also contemplated within the scope of the present invention. For example, the car contacts can be mounted one above the other on the guide shoe and cooperate with a single set of hatchway contacts arranged at one side only of the guide rail tor the car.

In operation, with the car at the basement, as

shown, the pressing and holding in of button 23,-

for example, will close a circuit from positive line 50 through wire 5|, pushbutton contacts 20, wire 52 to and through the coil oi floor-corresponding relay 2R and from the coilof the relay through lead lIlI to the negative line I00. The now-energized floor relay will close contacts 2R to complete a circuit leading from negative line I00 through contacts 2R',.wire I02 to stationary, floor-corresponding commutator contact finger 2F, to up direction plate 3U oi the movable coinmutator unit D, thence throughconductor 5U, up direction feed strip 6U, ieed strip contact finger 'IU, wire I 03, contacts 8B 0! a criss-cross circuit for the direction relays to the coil of up direction relay 8U, through the coil andthen through wiring 53,-to positive line 50.

Direction relay 80 opens contacts 8A '01 the criss-cross circuit whereby the down direction relay 8D can not become energized and will close contacts 80,- 8G, 8H. Contacts 8G, 8H, when closed, complete a circuit for starting the elevator motor. This circuit can be traced from positive line 50 through wiring 54, contacts 0H, wiring 55 to the motor EM, and from the motor through wire I04, contacts 0G and wiring I05 to negative line I08.

The car will now move upwardly and as it-ap-e proaches the second fioor, car-contact finger U will engage a hatchway contact pin ISU and a circuit will be closed for energizing up jump magnet IOU of the commutator actuating means. In this circuit certain references characters used to designate elements in the copendlng application referred to, have been applied. .This circuit can be tracedfrom positive line iilthrough wiring 54, 206' to the coil of up jump'magnet IOU and from the magnet through wiring "0U; contacts 8C oiup direction relay 0U, wire IIIU'; contacts I U and ISU on the car and in the hatchway respectively, metal arm I8, metal guide rail II and wiring 303' to negative line I00.

The now-energized jump-magnet IIU will act to pull its plunger and link and the pawl associated therewith will engage a tooth of gear 9 of the commutator drum and advance the drum one step.

As the car nears the third fioor the above-described operation will be repeated. At this time the step movement of the drum will bring the 5 finger 2F onto the insulated gap at 4. The circuit for the direction relay 8U will, at this time be broken, and the relay will act to cause its associated contacts to open the circuit for the elevator motor, whereupon the car will come to a stop.

The arrangements and devices disclosed are particularly adapted to be applied to a control system similar to that shown and described in my copending application referred to herein. These improvements can, as will be understood, be used is with other forms of control systems, as well and can be easily incorporated in systems now existing in commercial use.

The characteristic features of the invention will be readily apparent and comprise the use 20 of one or more elements essential to and having conventional mechanical functionsv in the actual operation oi any elevator installation, to perform additional mechanical and electrical functions in the electrical system provided for 25 controlling the car. In the preferred embodiment of the'invention the commonly employed guide rail and guide rail shoe serve this purpose. The hatchway contacts are adjustableand conductively secured to the guide rail. This provides simple means comprising few parts, which can be readily and accurately installed. This is of particular importance where the arrangement is to be applied to a system already in everyday use, where the shortest possible shutdown period for the car or cars is desired. The cooperating contact members arecarried on es-- sential, cooperating members and the engagement of the contacts is direct and uniformly positive. The flexible. car contact fingers are adapt- 40 ed for bushing, wiping engagement with fixed. hatchway contacts. This insures clean contact surfaces and avoids noise as would be occasioned by striking contacts or the throwing of a switch. Absence of operating noise is further reduced by ,5 the use of the flexible members cooperating with and providing a flexible fulcrum intermediate the ends of the car contact fingers. This permits the contact fingers to be composed of thin material, which function without noise, and the so flexible fulcrum relieves the contact fingers o2 bending stresses at their points of firm attachment in the insulating blocks. The arrangement is thus durable in service and will function properly and accurately without requiring frequent 55 repair andadjustment.

What I claim is:

1. In'an elevator control system the combination with a car movable in a hatchway past a plurality or fioors, oi commutatormechanismg-comso prising a movable unit, actuating means for the unit, a guide rail for the car in the hatchwayand circuits for controlling said actuating means to eiTect step movements of said unit in opposite directions, selectively, in accordance with the to direction of travel of the car, said circuits comprising contact members mounted in spaced relation on said guide rail, and cooperating contact' means carried by the car.

2. In an elevator control systemthe combina- 70 tion with a car movable in a hatchway past a plutuating means to eii'ect step movements or said lingers mounted on the 3. In an elevator control system the combination with a car movable past a plurality of floors,

of a movable commutator unit, actuating means for the unit, a guide rail for the car and circuits for controlling said actuating means to effect step movements of said unit in opposite directions, selectively, in accordance with direction of travel of the car, said circuits comprising the said guide rail for the car and contact members conductively mounted in spaced relation along said guide rail, and cooperating contact means carried by the car.

4. In an elevator control system the combination with a car movable past a plurality of floors, of a movable commutator unit, circuits for controlling movements of said unit in opposite directions, selectively, in accordance with the direction of travel of the car, and a rail serving as a guide rail for the car, said circuits comprising said guide rail, whereby the said rail performs mechanical and electrical functions in the system.

- 5. In an elevator control system the combination with a car movable past a plurality of floors, of a movable commutator unit, actuating means for the unit, a guide rail for the car, an up circuit and a down circuit for controlling said actuating means to effect step movements of said unit in opposite directions, selectively, in accordance with the direction of travel of the car, said circuits each comprising said guide rail and hatch- .way contacts mounted ,in spaced relation along the guide rail, and an up and a down car contact member on the car, each adapted to cooperate with the hatchway contacts to selectively close ,laid circuits, said guide rail being thus adapted to perform mechanical and electrical functions in the system. '6. In an elevator control system the combination with a car movable in a hatchway past a plurality'of floors, of a movable commutator unit, actuating means for the unit, a guide rail in the hatchway, a guide rail shoe on the car, and circuits controlling said actuating means to selectively effect step movements of the commutator unit in opposite directions, said circuits comprising contact elements mounted in spaced relation along said guide rail and cooperating contact guide rail shoe of the car. 'I. In an elevator control system the combination with a car movable in a hatchway past a plurality of floors, of a movable commutator unit. actuating means for the unit, a guide rail in the hatd way, a guide rail shoe on the car, and circult; controlling said actuating means to effect step movements of the commutator unit in opposite' directlons, said circuits comprising contact elements mounted in spaced relation and conductively secured to said guide rail and cooperating contact lingers mounted on th guide rail shoe of the car.

unit in opposite directions, selectively, in accordance with the direction of travel of the car,

8. In an elevator control system the combination with a car movable in a hatchway past a plurality of floors, of a movable commutator unit, actuating means for the unit, a guide rail for the car, and circuits for controlling said actuating means to selectively effect step movements of the commutator unit in opposite directions, sa=ri circuits comprising said guide rail, hatchway contacts mounted in spaced relation and conductively secured to said guide rail, and cooperating, oppo- 'sitely projecting flexible members carried by the car.

9. In an elevator control system the combination with a car movable in a hatchway past a plurality of floors, of a movable commutator unit, actuating means for the unit, circuits for controlling said actuating means to selectively effect step movements of the commutator unit in opposite directions, said circuits comprising hatchway contacts mounted in spaced relation in the hatchway, and cooperating flexible contact fingers carried by the car, and flexible, reinforcing means engaging each of said contact fingers providing a yielding fulcrum intermediate the ends thereof.

10. In an elevator control system the combination with a car movable in a hatchwa-y past a plurality of floors, of a movable commutator unit,

actuating means for the unit, circuits for controlling said actuating means to selectively eifect step movements of the commutator unit in opposite directions, said circuits comprising contacts mounted in spaced relation in said hatchway, and cooperating spring contact fingers carried by the car, and a reinforcing spring strip engaging and adapted to provide a yielding fulcrum intermediate the ends of each of said contact fingers.

ii. In an elevator control system the combinat on with a car movable past a plurality of floors, of a movable commutator unit, actuating means for the unit and circuits for controlling the actuating means to effect step movements of the unit in opposite directions, selectively, said circuits comprising fixed contact members arranged in spaced relation along an elevator hatchway, and,

cooperating spring contact members carried by 44 connected to the guide rail, and circuits adapted to be closed intermittently by said cooperatnig contacts as the car moves up and down in the hatchway, the circuits comprising the said guide rail, whereby the guide rail also performs an electrical function of the combination.

MARCELLUS STALEY 

